Broccoli Pasta Salad {Lightened Up}

Hi friends! Who’s ready for fall flavors? If you are Broccoli Pasta Salad is exactly what you are looking for! It’s packed with crunchy broccoli, crisp apples, savory bacon, and Barilla ProteinPLUS Pasta! It’s easy to make and always a crowd pleaser!

This post has been sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always all opinions are my own! #ad #BarillaProteinPLUS #CollectiveBias

Whenever I sit down to write a post and share a recipe with you I try to give you a super easy, doable recipe that your family will come back to over and over. I’m sharing another one of those with you today!

I have a hunch you are going to love Broccoli Pasta Salad as much as I do!

My other objective in writing my posts with you is to share a little glimpse into family life here on the farm. When I’m doing that I try to keep it positive. Well, today, I’m not sharing a peek into happy farm life. Instead I’m going to take just a minute to keep it real!

It’s fall right? The days are getting shorter and that means my family is in the house more often than they are when it’s the summer. Don’t misunderstand me, I love having my family around.

The only problem is that when they start milling around the house a little more often I remember what a bunch of pigs I live with! Please tell me you can relate!

I’m not sure where I went wrong but no matter how many times I tell my boys to pick their socks and underwear up off the bathroom floor they just can’t seem to remember. I don’t do it for them and I don’t think this is something I should have to remind them to do over and over. It seems obvious that a person should be responsible to put their own underwear in the laundry basket. Obvious, what am I talking about? It doesn’t have to be obvious, I’ve explained it to them a million times. It’s true!

The lack of picking up after themselves doesn’t end with underwear either. For some reason it’s difficult to put the decorative pillow back on the sofa after they nap there. Putting their own drinking glass in the dishwasher is something they have to be reminded about. They can’t remember to replace the toilet paper roll when they are the man who polishes it off.

Good grief people…if it’s yours clean it up! I used to think my mother in law never taught her son to clean up after himself. I’m not sure if she did or didn’t, but it could be very possible she did and he never learned. Because I know for a fact I’ve taught my boys a million times over. It’s just a concept they can’t seem to pick up! Best of luck to their wives! And yes, I’m going to warn them before they get married. That’s right! I’m going to warn her and wash my hands of it!

Okay, now that I’ve had a little chance to vent here we go with this awesome Broccoli Pasta Salad, and by the way it there’s very little mess involved with the prep of this salad!

Broccoli Pasta Salad is easy to make!

Step 1: Prepare Barilla ProteinPLUS Penne Pasta according to package instructions and set aside. I love that this pasta has 17 grams of protein which helps fuel my family’s busy and active lifestyle! Even though that busy and active lifestyle doesn’t include cleaning up after themselves!

Step 5: This salad is best when it’s served immediately. However, I do some of the prep work ahead of time. I like to boil the pasta, cook and crumble the bacon, and dice the broccoli ahead of time. I also like making the sauce ahead of time, just be sure to keep it separate from the rest of the ingredients.

Adding pasta is to salads is the secret to getting kids, and picky adults, to eat their veggies!

Broccoli Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish to serve along any grilled meat, or chicken can be added to this salad to easily turn it into a main dish even more packed with protein!

Swing by your local Smith’s and grab a box of Barilla ProteinPLUS Pasta and be sure to click HERE to get a digital coupon!

You are going to love how easy it is to use Barilla ProteinPLUS Pasta as an added source of protein to fuel your families bodies! My kids never complain when they show up to dinner and pasta is involved!

Wish me luck with my dirty underwear on the floor situation! If you asked my boys why they do it they would either tell you they forgot, or they are too busy! I say maybe if they better skip some of the fun activities they love to attend so they will have plenty of time for underwear duty!

Ahem, let’s move on! You’ve gotta try Broccoli Pasta Salad soon! You are going to love all the flavors of fall packed into this scrumptious salad!

P.S. I have still love all of my boys immensely! And I should let you know they are super responsible at driving semi trucks, tractors, welding, and other crazy activities! We just struggle with a few tiny little things!

Prepare Barilla ProteinPLUS Penne Pasta according to package instructions and set aside. I love that this pasta has 17 grams of protein which helps fuel my family's busy and active lifestyle! Even though that busy and active lifestyle doesn’t include cleaning up after themselves!

This salad is best when it’s served immediately. However, I do some of the prep work ahead of time. I like to boil the pasta, cook and crumble the bacon, and dice the broccoli ahead of time. I also like making the sauce ahead of time, just be sure to keep it separate from the rest of the ingredients.

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About Amy Engberson

I live on a dairy with my husband and three boys. Although we are in the business of raising cattle, we really are in the business of raising boys. I am passionate about catching up with each other at meal times. My love language is food. And I hope that my men feel the love in every bite.

I feel you on living with folks who don’t clean up after themselves. While my toddler is pretty good about cleaning up sometimes, we’ve got a ways to go. 😉 And I look forward to hopefully instilling in her that we SHOULD clean up after ourselves always.

And this lightened up broccoli pasta salad? YUM. Loving the addition of cranberries! I could go for a bowl now!

Hi I’m Amy! Welcome to my stinky farm life where my days are filled with chasing kids and cows! It’s all about simply delicious food around here! If you leave my house hungry…it’s your own fault!
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Thanks for stopping by! I hope you found something to share with your family. They will feel the love!! Leave me a comment and let me know you were here!